Public Invited to Annual Spring Choir Concert at the University of Mary

Mar 11, 2022

Concert is free and open to the public

BISMARCK, ND —The death and resurrection of Jesus during the Easter season gives Christians hope for life eternal. The trees budding, flowers blooming, birds singing, and grass rising from dormancy at the outset of spring is also a joyful reminder of the precious gift of life. The University of Mary and its Department of Music celebrate both with their annual Spring Choir Concert directed by Dr. Tom Porter on Sunday, April 10, at 3 p.m. in Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel in the Benedictine Center for Servant Leadership. The concert is free and open to the public.

The program showcases a wide variety of choral music, including music from the Renaissance, folksongs, an African American spiritual, and popular Broadway selections.

“Our spring concert features a 20th century masterpiece, ‘Chichester Psalms’ by American composer, conductor and musicologist Leonard Bernstein,” said Porter. “Bernstein wrote this work in 1965, less than ten years after ‘West Side Story.’ You can hear many of the same musical elements in this composition, including sharp dissonances, mixed meters, and exuberant rhythmic energy. The work concludes with Psalm 133:1, ‘How good and pleasant it is for people to dwell together in unity.’ The choir is dedicating its performance to the people of Ukraine.”

Featured performers on the program include Dr. Beverly Everett, conductor of the Bismarck Mandan Symphony Orchestra and organ professor at University of Mary; Michael Langer, piano professor at Mary; and the Mary Percussion Ensemble, directed by Dr. Lucas Bernier.

“As our concert falls on Palm Sunday, we are featuring two settings of a traditional liturgical text, ‘Pueri Hebraeorum,' which translates, ‘The Hebrew children carrying olive branches went out to meet the Lord, shouting and saying, Hosanna in the highest,’” Porter said. “The first setting is by the Renaissance master Palestrina. The second is by the 20th century American composer Randall Thompson. It is interesting preparing two works with the same text and recognizing the similarity in styles despite 400 years between them.”

The program also features Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz, conducted by Porter, who is in his 14th year at the University of Mary. The choir includes students from 14 states who are studying in over 20 different majors. Porter values the diversity the students bring. "The choir members contribute wonderful energy, talent, and focus. Their varied interests and academic pursuits bring depth and substance to daily rehearsals and to performances. The students find choir to be a time of regeneration in the middle of their day; we all leave the rehearsal breathing more intentionally and standing a little taller, our minds and our spirits refreshed."

In addition to Concert Choir, University of Mary Vocal Jazz will perform a number of selections on the program, including the vocal jazz standard, "Pass Me the Jazz" and "Waving through a Window" from the movie and Broadway musical, "Dear Evan Hansen." Vocal Jazz will also perform a piece by North Dakota native Peggy Lee, a well-known and respected singer and composer. "I Love Being Here with You" was arranged for a British car commercial by Jacob Collier, and that version was used as the basis for the arrangement by director Tom Porter. The 11-member ensemble will be touring northwest North Dakota in the days following the concert.

For more information about the concert or the music program, contact music@umary.edu or call (701) 355 8301. To learn more about all the academic offerings at the University of Mary visit www.umary.edu, or contact an admissions representative at enroll@umary.edu, or by calling (701) 355-8030.

Concert Choir Personnel

Alto

Sophia Ahlquist Bloomington, MN

Shalae Baumgartner Mandan, ND

Bernadette Boyle Federal Way, WA

Elizabeth Dean Dickinson, ND

Kira DeMaris Sleepy Eye, MN

Lillian Effertz Velva, ND

Anna Ingalls Bancroft, IA

Clara Koop Ham Lake, MN

Lauren Koezly Ham Lake, MN

Meghan Koezly Ham Lake, MN

Mary Kracht West St. Paul, MN

Teresa Luke Kohler, WI

Abigail Lynch Holcombe, WI

Maria Mack Rugby, ND

Alexis Maher Mandan, ND

Kateri Pantoja La Vista, NE

Alyssa Rud Bismarck, ND

Maria Schmitz Harvey, ND

Alexis Smith Jamestown, ND

Sarah Symalla Stillwater, MN

Bass

Ben Archuleta Bismarck, ND

John Cornwell Spokane Valley, OR

Christopher Dill St. Paul, MN

Noah Fettig Bismarck, ND

Calvin Ikens Eagan, MN

Daniel Kane Las Vegas, NV

Mike Kenney St. Paul, MN

Zachary King Glendale Heights, IL

Brady Saylor Bismarck, ND

Lucas Schlosser Mandan, ND

Thatcher Solem Beulah, ND

Graydon Williams Bismarck, ND

Matthew Wood Howard Lake, MN

Soprano

Ariella Fogel Bismarck, ND

Kyia Feyereisen Mobridge, SD

Jane Gowen Bismarck, ND

Greta Hall Brainerd, MN

Theresa Karrmann Fond Du Lac, WI

Frances Kennedy Chicago, IL

Laura Kunz DeForest, WI

Curstin Larson Gilman, MN

Regina McLain Downers Grove, IL

Madisyn Mientek Athens, TX

Lily Moch Portland, ND

Kamryn Morrison Minot, ND

Sarah Pankratz Billings, MT

Hannah Ratajzcak Glyndon, MN

Megan Simones Eagan, MN

Helena Skidd Scottsdale, AZ

Rose Stangler Deep River, MN

Mary Storick Bismarck, ND

Kaitlin Werner East Grand Forks, MN

Tenor

Fletcher Biby Moorhead, MN

Richard Clark Turlock, CA

James Dill St. Paul, MN

Hunter Fox Bismarck, ND

DeAnte Kehr Bismarck, ND

Logan Quinn Wilton, ND

Bart Stillwell Green Bay, WI

Isaac Trefz Onaka, SD

Vocal Jazz Personnel

Rachel Rusch Bismarck, ND